Easter is more than one Sunday; it’s a season in the Christian liturgical year. Jesus walked on the Earth, teaching His disciples for 40 days after the resurrection. The seven Sunday’s of Easter offer us a time to reflect upon the meaning of the resurrection, the future ministry of the Church, and the eschatological consummation of redemption.
During the past week, I have been reflecting on the significance of the resurrection. My father’s birthday was this past week. He would have been 77 years old. But he died at the age of 70. This week I visited the graves of two friends. One was a great pastor; and the other was a great teacher. Pastor Joe Q. Smith was my friend for two decades. Professor Thomas Wilson was my teacher in the early 1980s. Both have gone to be with the Lord.
A few years ago I received a call from my brother very early one Sunday morning. In a voice that sounded very distressed he said, “Dan, I need you.” I ask, “Tim, what’s wrong?” He explained to me that his eighteen year old daughter, Danielle, had been killed in an automobile crash. I immediately left Bainbridge for the three hour drive to Baxley to be with my brother. The night was very dark – no moon and no stars. It seemed as if the whole world had been overcome by the dense, dark night. When I arrived at Tim’s home we embraced and wept together. Then Tim asked, “Dan, why did God take my baby from me?”